WimpieS wrote:
Hi there, I used Saltiga casting braid on a Jarvis Walker 2000 spinning reel, and lost a lot of lures and patience with all the wind knots hooking up in the guides. I made sure the braid was put on "tight" on the spool, did not overfill the spool, but alas, endless knots,
Please help!!!!!
I see in your profile you are using a 9ft passion stick? The 2000 Jarvis is going to be too small for that setup, but will probably cope for the time being when you can upgrade to a 5000 size reel. One of the main drawbacks of the cheaper reels is that their osscilation is not as accurate as the more reputable brands ie: Shimano.
This is a very often overlooked attribute even in more pricey reels. When using braid, in order to avoid the extremely annoying bunches, the braid must be wound evenly onto the spool by the reels oscillation. The braid should lie flat and even, and should be parallell to the axis of the spool. If the braid forms an "hourglass" shape or tapers narrower toward the front of the spool, you're in for hours of pitching spoons and jigs into the distance for charity, and practising your four letter word vocabulary! If the braid tapers wider towards the front of your spool, you're still ok but will sacrifice distance, but shouldn't get bunches.
What happens in the two previous examples, is that as the braid is being whipped off the spool at lightning speed, towed by your 2 ounce spoon aimed at the horizon, is that as the braid is pulled off loop by loop, it pulls forward, and loosens the next few loops on the "downhill" section of the "hips" of your hourglass or forward tapering braid, resulting in a bunch of loose braid that slips over the front of the spool before its turn has come, and instantaneously forms a weavers nest on your first guide. Normally resulting in a loud "CRACK" like a whip as your 30lb braid parts at the speed of sound and keeps following your 2 ounce spoon to the horizon.
Most reels worth their salt have small adjusting shims or washers that can be stacked on the shaft under the spool, thereby controlling the lay of the line on the spool. More washers position the spool further forward, resulting in the braid tapering narrower towards the front, less washers create a taper towards the bottom as the spool is positioned further aft. The washers come in different thicknesses so your line "lay" can be positioned very accurately.
Purchasing a reel with these features may be a more pricey investment, but will give you hours of trouble free use and satisfaction, and will last almost forever with correct maintenance. I would recommend the Shimano Stradic or, if you can afford it the Sustain for your application both in 5000 size. Both these reels have the right features to give you years of trouble free service. The Daiea Excellers are also a more inexpensive option but do not last as long as the Shimano's.
Hope it all helps!
